Real estate and infrastructure occupiers in Montreal typically cluster in Downtown CBD, plan ~215 sqft per seat at high-end fit-out ($145–215/sqft), and pay around 38 CAD/sqft ($28 USD) on Class A.

• Preferred submarket: Downtown CBD.
• Typical fit-out spec: High-end ($145–215/sqft).
• Plan ~215 sqft per seat for headcount sizing.
• Class A rent context: 38 CAD/sqft ($28 USD).
• Typical lease: 10 years with 12 months rent-free.
• Talent depth in Montreal: 86/100.

TL;DR

• Preferred submarket: Downtown CBD.
• Typical fit-out spec: High-end ($145–215/sqft).
• Plan ~215 sqft per seat for headcount sizing.
• Class A rent context: 38 CAD/sqft ($28 USD).
• Typical lease: 10 years with 12 months rent-free.
• Talent depth in Montreal: 86/100.

Where they cluster

Real estate and infrastructure occupiers in Montreal typically anchor in Downtown CBD. Banking, law, professional services, energy, government.

What they pay

Class A rent in Montreal runs 38 CAD/sqft ($28 USD) on a 10-year lease with 12 months free. Trophy submarkets command a 20–40% premium above the city index.

Spec and fit-out

Typical real estate and infrastructure fit-out targets high-end specification at $145–215/sqft. Branded reception, full client-facing programming, premium furniture, and specialist AV are standard.

Headcount sizing

Plan around 215 sqft per seat blended (workstation + circulation + amenity). A 100-headcount real estate office in Montreal typically targets 21,500 sqft of leasable area.

Talent angle

Sponsor and asset-management teams favor trophy CBD addresses with proximity to investment-banking and law-firm tenancy. Deepest French-English bilingual professional talent in North America. Structural AI research cluster (Yoshua Bengio at MILA, Element AI alumni). Strong aerospace, video games, and creative industries talent.

Tax and lease context

Headline corporate tax: 26.5%. Net leases (tenant pays opex separately). 10-year terms standard. Free rent of 10-14 months and TI of C$60-$100/sqft typical on a 10-year Class A deal.

Key facts

Frequently asked questions

Where do real estate and infrastructure occupiers lease office space in Montreal?

Most cluster in Downtown CBD. Rent runs ~38 CAD/sqft ($28 USD) for trophy and prime stock.

What fit-out spec do real estate and infrastructure occupiers run in Montreal?

Typically high-end at $145–215/sqft.

How much office space per seat should a real estate and infrastructure occupier plan in Montreal?

Plan ~215 sqft per seat blended. A 100-person team typically takes 21,500 sqft.

What NAICS codes describe the real estate and infrastructure vertical?

Representative NAICS 2022 codes: 531, 237.

What is the talent index in Montreal?

86/100. Use the city profile for full detail.

Related

• Real estate and infrastructure — global overview
• Montreal — full city profile
• Financial services in Montreal
• Asset management in Montreal
• Investment banking in Montreal
• Legal services in Montreal

Editorial provenance

Reviewed by Miriam Hollander — Lead market analyst. Last updated 2026-04-15. See our methodology and editorial standards.

Primary sources for this page

• CBRE Marketview reports — CBRE
• JLL Office Insight — JLL
• Cushman & Wakefield Marketbeat — Cushman & Wakefield
• Savills World Research — Savills
• Colliers Global Office Outlook — Colliers

Full sources index · Submit a correction

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• Hybrid Workplace Strategy — How to size, structure, and lease a Class A office for a hybrid workforce.
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• Cross-border Expansion — How to run a coordinated Class A office search across multiple geographies.
• Fit-out Capex — How to budget, sequence, and govern Class A office fit-out capex.
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